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  #1  
Old 10-13-2021, 04:20 PM
CDNOutdoorsman CDNOutdoorsman is offline
 
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Default buddy heaters

Hi there, I am looking at getting a tent heater for both ice fishing and also maybe using it in my hunting blind. Looking for quiet versions, which ones are best, and where are good places to buy them.

thanks
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  #2  
Old 10-13-2021, 06:32 PM
curtz curtz is offline
 
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I have the big buddy, keeps the ice fishing tent warm and I use it in my hunting blind, on low. Watch for sales canadian tire, cabela's.
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Old 10-13-2021, 06:38 PM
Blastoff Blastoff is offline
 
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Also check UFA or any other shops don’t think there will be any sales on them
Last year UFA had a better price than crappy tire or cabellas. Big buddy is a good one
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Old 10-13-2021, 07:06 PM
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Phil McCracken Phil McCracken is offline
 
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I will also vote for the Big Buddy.

Have one at my hunting cabin for the past 10+years, and it never failed.

Normal temp days...on pilot only. When we sometime get -25/30 degrees in November, Low will do. Albeit, my cabin is insulated and has skirting around the bottom.

But with the big one, you have more choices on the temp choices...
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Old 10-13-2021, 07:41 PM
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Stinky Buffalo Stinky Buffalo is offline
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I have the Big Buddy as well as the Buddy.

I got them when there was the big Amazon debacle a few years back (some might remember that one!)

When it comes to the size/BTU output etc., check out the "Hunting Buddy". It seems to hit the sweet spot between the two when you don't have too huge an area to heat.

A lot of it depends on what your needs are; the tradeoffs between flexibility and portability.
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  #6  
Old 10-13-2021, 07:44 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo View Post
I have the Big Buddy as well as the Buddy.

I got them when there was the big Amazon debacle a few years back (some might remember that one!)

When it comes to the size/BTU output etc., check out the "Hunting Buddy". It seems to hit the sweet spot between the two when you don't have too huge an area to heat.

A lot of it depends on what your needs are; the tradeoffs between flexibility and portability.
I ended up with a free Buddy heater because of that Amazon mix up.
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  #7  
Old 10-13-2021, 08:29 PM
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Dewey Cox Dewey Cox is offline
 
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I like the big buddy.
Bought mine at lowes at the end of the season on sale.
Watch the flyers, they're bou d to be on sale somewhere soon. Outdoors stores, hardware stores, peavey mart, etc.
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  #8  
Old 10-14-2021, 11:22 AM
Blackhawk45 Blackhawk45 is offline
 
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I use the buddy 9000btu version for a 4x8 blind, The low setting is usually more then enough to keep the chill off.
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  #9  
Old 10-16-2021, 12:36 AM
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does it ALL outdoors does it ALL outdoors is offline
 
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I use one of these dual head "sunflower" heaters.

Within 5 min it has to be turned right off even in -25

I've used a Little Buddy and loved it but I have no experience with the Big Buddy.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/...op_1162711.jpg
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  #10  
Old 10-16-2021, 08:26 AM
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58thecat 58thecat is offline
 
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Got two little buddy heaters and really like them, I refill the one pound propane tanks, everything is easy to carry etc.
I run the two when really cold out but usually one is enough....they don’t have the temp setting on them full on or full off
6-8 hours per tank depending how full I get them on the refill.
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  #11  
Old 10-16-2021, 08:39 PM
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We use the hose adapters to a 5 lb bottle, works slick.

TBark
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  #12  
Old 10-16-2021, 09:06 PM
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Savage Bacon Savage Bacon is offline
 
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Big buddy heater is on sale at cabelas. Not sure what other stores are selling it for tho.
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  #13  
Old 10-16-2021, 09:34 PM
curtz curtz is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Savage Bacon View Post
Big buddy heater is on sale at cabelas. Not sure what other stores are selling it for tho.
Seen them at Princess Auto the other day for $200, Peavy Mart $250.
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  #14  
Old 10-16-2021, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors View Post
I use one of these dual head "sunflower" heaters.

Within 5 min it has to be turned right off even in -25

I've used a Little Buddy and loved it but I have no experience with the Big Buddy.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/...op_1162711.jpg
I use my little buddy in a single ice fishing tent. It works fine even in -35. I find not too hot or too cold. Not good for a bigger tent. Need the next size up with a propane bottle attachment. Get the one with the grill attachment and you can cook hotdogs.
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Old 10-16-2021, 09:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat View Post
Got two little buddy heaters and really like them, I refill the one pound propane tanks, everything is easy to carry etc.
I run the two when really cold out but usually one is enough....they don’t have the temp setting on them full on or full off
6-8 hours per tank depending how full I get them on the refill.
I really need to learn how to fill them little bottles. They are so damn expensive.
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  #16  
Old 10-16-2021, 09:57 PM
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EZM EZM is offline
 
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For Ice fishing I use the big buddy and run a hose adapter to a full size propane tank and it lasts for 10 trips or something (if it runs hard all day).

It has the fan to circulate heat, and can be one burner low and medium and two burners high and full blast so it's quite versatile from throwing a little heat to throwing big heat when it's -40 and windy out there.

This is the best way to go if you don't need to be completely portable and are ice fishing with the truck or a sled.
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  #17  
Old 10-17-2021, 01:52 AM
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58thecat 58thecat is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
I really need to learn how to fill them little bottles. They are so damn expensive.
Yeah we had a thread on it last ice fishing season, I just googled it, bought the filling adaptor on amazon and went at it on the tailgate of my truck, super slick!

When we travel in winter I take the little buddy heater with us and a few tanks just in case we gotta hunker down in a storm if something goes bad best to be prepared too.
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  #18  
Old 10-17-2021, 08:47 AM
curtz curtz is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
I really need to learn how to fill them little bottles. They are so damn expensive.
Easy to do and works great, I have my 20lb warm and freeze my empty 1lb.
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  #19  
Old 10-17-2021, 09:06 AM
calgarygringo calgarygringo is offline
 
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I have posted this before but for those that want to learn the easiest no screwing around way to fill your 1 lb bottles follow this video. Been doing it for years this way and never fails to fill them without messing around with freezing bottles/ heating bottles and they always fill which is another issue with the other methods. A small scale to confirm your weights is good too to prevent over filling and to know that you really are full when the propane hissing sound stops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD1C...ndex=31&t=310s
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  #20  
Old 10-18-2021, 05:58 PM
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Andrzej Andrzej is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calgarygringo View Post
Thanks for posting this link...I have had an adaptor for a couple of years now but did not use it much due to the freezing technique being a PITA.
I will give this method a try.

5 lbs bottle for Buddy Heater is hard to beat for the price of a refill but one needs to buy it and an adaptor hose.
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